Wednesday, October 5, 2016

Grand Ole Opry 10/7 & 10/8-91st Birthday Weekend

It's that time of year as this weekend the Grand Ole Opry will be celebrating their 91st birthday. The actual date is the end of November, however years ago the Opry began having an annual Country Music Disc Jockey Convention and as part of the festivities, the Opry began celebrating it's birthday. While the DJ convention no longer takes place, the Opry continues to celebrate, though not on the scale that they did years ago. As usual, I will be headed to Nashville later today for the weekend. While the line-ups have not been posted as of yet, there are a few names that I can pass along: For the Thursday night Opry Country Classics Show, Larry Gatlin will be the host and the spotlight artist is Connie Smith. Among those scheduled to perform on The Gatlin Brothers, William Michael Morgan, Rhonda Vincent and Gene Watson. This might be the best show of the weekend!!The Friday Night Opry, with one show, has Opry members Ricky Skaggs, Joe Diffie, Connie Smith and Mike Snider, along with guest artists Lee Brice, Bryan White, Ashley Monroe and Chuck Wicks. And still more to be announced. The Grand Ole Opry on Saturday night has two shows, with Opry member Brad Paisley headlining both shows. Opry members joining him, so far, include Connie Smith, Mike Snider and Riders In The Sky, along with guests Mo Pitney and The Secret Sisters. There will also be the Opry Plaza party all day Saturday, with Crystal Gayle doing the Saturday afternoon birthday concert. Others performing in the plaza include Carson Peters and Iron Mountain, Janelle Arthur and Ben & Sara. Somehow, as it has been in the past, one or two of these acts many end up doing the Opry on Saturday night. Hopefully it is a good weekend and next week I will pass along any information I have received, including the news of the big price hikes for Opry tickets in 2017.And now, here is the posted Grand Ole Opry line-up from five years ago, the weekend of October 7 & 8. 2011. It was the Opry's 86th birthday weekend and on Saturday night, Rascal Flatts became the newest members of the Grand Ole Opry. Friday October 77:00: Mike Snider (host); Jim Ed Brown; Jason Michael Carroll7:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Crystal BowersoxIntermission8:15: Charley Pride (host); Jack Greene; Mandy Barnett8:45: Ricky Skaggs (host); Connie Smith; The WhitesSaturday October 81st show7:00: Jimmy Dickens (host); Jimmy C Newman; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys7:30: Jeannie Seely (host); The Whites; Charley Pride8:00: Craig Morgan; Ronnie Dunn; Rascal Flatts2nd show9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); George Hamilton IV: Ronnie Dunn; Vince Gill10:00: Charley Pride (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chuck Mead & His Grassy Knoll Boys10:30: Jim Ed Brown (host); Jan Howard; Craig Morgan; Opry Square Dancers11:00: Jeannie Seely (host); Rascal FlattsFollowing the previous year's 85th birthday weekend which featured Roy Clark, Taylor Swift and Dolly Parton among others, the 1st show on Saturday night was perhaps one of the worst birthday shows ever. Just 9 acts and televised portion featured just three, one of whom was Ronnie Dunn and the other being Rascal Flatts, who became new members. Unfortunately, this birthday weekend was the start of a trend for the birthday weekends that has continued. Now from ten years ago, the weekend of October 6 & 7, 2006:Friday October 68:00: The Whites (host); Jack Greene8:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Mel McDaniel9:00: Jean Shepard (host); T.G. Sheppard; Raul Malo9:30: Jimmy C Newman (host); Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chely WrightSaturday October 71st show6:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Jimmy C Newman7:00: Dierks Bentley; Chris Young; Raul Malo; Loretta Lynn8:00: Jean Shepard (host); Jack Greene; T.G. Sheppard; Opry Square Dancers8:30: The Whites (host); Mel McDaniel; Daryle Singletary2nd show9:30: Jimmy Dickens (host); Connie Smith; Loretta Lynn10:00: Jimmy C Newman (host); Stu Phillips; Bobby Osborne & The Rocky Top X-Press; Chris Young10:30: The Whites (host); Jack Greene; Raul Malo; Opry Square Dancers11:00: Jean Shepard (host); T.G. Sheppard; Dierks Bentley11:30: Ray Pillow (host); Mel McDaniel; Daryle SingletaryAnd from 25 years ago, Saturday October 5, 1991. This was night of the Grand Ole Opry's 66th birthday show: 1st show6:30: BonanzaBill Monroe (host): I'm Going Back to Old KentuckySkeeter Davis: The End of the WorldBill Monroe: Dark As the Night; Blue As the Day6:45: Country Music Hall of FameCharlie Walker (host): Right or WrongGeorge Hamilton IV: Till I Can Gain Control AgainHank Locklin: Send Me the Pillow You Dream OnCharlie Walker: Drinking Champagne7:00: Shoney'sPorter Wagoner (host): Funky Grass BandWilma Lee Cooper: Ghost TrainBill Carlisle: Leave That Liar AloneRoy Drusky: The Last FarewellOsborne Brothers: Kentucky7:30: Standard CandyRoy Acuff (host): Wabash CannonballConnie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want MeJim Ed Brown: Just for Old Time SakeVince Gill: Little Liza Jane/When I Call Your NameGrand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole OpryRoy Acuff: I Saw the Light8:00: Martha WhiteGrandpa Jones (host): Apple JackJim & Jesse: When I Dream About the SouthlandThe Whites: Doing it By the BookBill Anderson: Still/Southern FriedOpry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sugar In the GoardGrandpa Jones: Gooseberry Pie8:30: OprylandHank Snow (host): Address Unknown4 Guys: Way Down DeepDel Reeves: A Dozen Pair of BootsMike Snider: Old Joe Clark/Foggy Mountain BreakdownJeannie Seely: When He Leaves YouHank Snow: I'm Glad I Got to See You Once Again2nd show9:30: Dollar GeneralPorter Wagoner (host): You Gotta Have A LicenseOsborne Brothers: Tennessee Hound DogRay Pillow: The Days When You Were Still In Love With MeVince Gill: Look at Us/Crying Holy Unto the Lord/When I Call Your NamePorter Wagoner: Big Wind10:00: Little DebbieGrandpa Jones (host): Kitty ClydeSkeeter Davis: The End of the WorldRoy Drusky: MississippiGrandpa Jones: Tritzem Yodel10:15: Tennessee Pride/SunbeamRoy Acuff (host): Low & LonelyConnie Smith: The Keys in the Mailbox/SatisfiedGrand Ole Opry Cast: Happy Birthday Grand Ole OpryRoy Acuff: I Saw the Light10:30: Pet MilkDel Reeves (host): Two Dollars in the Jukebox/A Dime At a Time/Looking at the World Through A WindshieldDavid Houston: I'll Take You Home Again, KathleenDel Reeves: Lay A Little Lovin' On Me10:45: B.C. PowderBill Monroe (host): Mary Jane, Won't You Be MineCharlie Walker: Drinking ChampagneOpry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Bill CheathamBill Monroe: Wicked Path of Sin11:00: Coca-ColaHank Snow (host): White Silver SandsBill Carlisle: KnotholeJim Ed Brown: The 3 Bells4 Guys: We're Only Here for A Little WhileJim & Jesse: The Flower in the DesertHank Snow: That Lucky Old Sun11:30: CreametteBill Anderson (host): Don't She Look GoodThe Whites: Love Is A RoseJeannie Seely: I'll Be Around When It's OverMike Snider: Foggy Mountain Breakdown/Putting on the DogBill Anderson: Deck of CardsFor the featured line-up this week, let's go back to Saturday October 7, 1989 when country music legend Buck Owens made a rare appearance on the Grand Ole Opry. You could say that Opry fans got a real treat that night as not only was Buck featured, but a young Garth Brooks was also on the Opry schedule. 1st show6:30: BonanzaJimmy C Newman (host): Don't Say; Don't SayJeanne Pruett: Satin SheetsJimmy C Newman: Diggy Liggy LoBessyl Duhon: Texa Cajun6:45: Rudy'sJim Ed Brown (host): Southern LovingThe Browns: Here Today & Gone Tomorrow/The 3 Bells7:00: Shoney'sPorter Wagoner (host): DooleyJean Shepard: I Thought of You/It Wasn't God Who Made Honky-Tonk Angels/You Win Again/A Dear John LetterJim & Jesse: When I Dream About the SouthlandRay Pillow: Bubbles in My BeerSkeeter Davis: The End of the WorldPorter Wagoner: Wake Up Jacob7:30: Standard CandyJimmy Dickens (host): I'm Little But I'm LoudGarth Brooks: If Tomorrow Never ComesJeannie Seely: One Bad Old MemoryBuck Owens: Act Naturally/The Streets of BakersfieldJimmy Dickens: My Eyes Are Jealous/Sleeping at the Foot of the Bed8:00: Martha WhiteRoy Acuff (host): Wabash CannonballConnie Smith: Then & Only Then/Louisiana ManOsborne Brothers: Rocky Top/Rank Strangers/KentuckyDavid Houston: Almost PersuadedOpry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Sally Goodin8:30: Music Valley MerchantsHank Snow (host): Send Me the Pillow You Dream OnRoy Drusky: You Always Hurt the One You LoveBill Carlisle: Too Old to Cut the MustardJan Howard; The One You Slip Around WithCharlie Louvin: Til the EndHank Snow: Among My Souvenirs2nd show9:30: Dollar GeneralPorter Wagoner (host): On a Highway Headed SouthBuck Owens: I'm Gonna Have Love One More Time/Tiger by the Tail/Together Again/Act Naturally Jean Shepard: Second FiddleStonewall Jackson: Old Chuck of CoalPorter Wagoner: Sugar Foot Rag10:00: Little DebbieJim Ed Brown (host): Pop A TopDottie West: Here Comes My BabyJim Ed Brown: Morning10:15: SunbeamRoy Acuff (host): Just A FriendJim & Jesse: I'm Happy Everyday I Live/Paradise10:30: Pet MilkJimmy Dickens (host): John HenryGarth Brooks: If Tomorrow Never Comes/We Bury the Hatchet But Leave the Handle Sticking OutJimmy Dickens: Take Me As I Am, or Let Me Go10:45: B.C. PowderOsborne Brothers (host): Georgia Mules & Country BoysCharlie Walker: Does Ft. Worth Ever Cross Your MindOpry Square Dance Band/Melvin Sloan Dancers: Golden SlippersSteve Thomas: Sally Goodin11:00: Coca-ColaHank Snow (host): Vanishing BreedConnie Smith: You've Got Me Right Where You Want MeRay Pillow: Stranger Things Have HappenedJustin Tubb: Lonesome 7-7203Roy Drusky: There'll Never Be Anyone Else But You For MeHank Snow: Ol' Shep

11:30: CreametteJohnny Russell: Got No Reason Now for Going HomeBill Carlisle: Same Old Tale That the Crow Told MeCharlie Louvin: Will You Visit Me on SundaysDavid Houston: Livin' In A House Full of LoveJan Howard: Wind Beneath my WindsJohnny Russell: No One Will Ever KnowWhat a great night for the Opry and I hope everyone enjoys the Opry this weekend. Happy Birthday Grand Ole Opry!!!!

8 comments:

Oh Byron, how we wish for the good ole opry days. . .hope you have a good weekend. My thoughts so far about this anniversary - yawn. After another disappointing anniversary last year (the 90th no less), we made the decision to discontinue going for the anniversary weekend. We can still go to the Opry, on our schedule, and probably see a better show at another time. One of our highlights last year was meeting you and having a great discussion about the Opry over the years - we were on the same page. We may listen in, for old times sake. Keep the commentaries coming; you may still be right about Chris Janson, they will just do it on the weekend like they did Rascal Flats. (from Anonymous in PA)

Geez, the anniversary weekend and they are giving a full segment to Brad Paisley in both Saturday shows; all of those Opry Members and other country music entertainers and that's what they are giving the audience for their expensive tickets !! I like Brad but why night show-case others as well.

The Opry has become a complete joke. We're happy now to get five or six Opry members on a Saturday night and a "Birthday Celebration" like this? Go count how many members were on the 75th anniversary for comparison. Maybe it's a sign of the times. I can't see the Opry ever coming back to its glory days.

Boy I'm really out of touch and over the hill. In my opinion I just heard what cave men must have sounded like trying to make what we might eventually call music and the crowd just loved it. I always knew I was a square!

Just so hard for me to appreciate some of the things that pass for good music or entertainment these days.

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About Me

I am a nationally recognized independent historian of the Grand Ole Opry. In addition to being the publisher and writer of Fayfare's Opry Blog, I have also researched Opry information for numerous authors and interested Opry fans. A resident of Canton, Ohio, I have attended hundreds of Grand Ole Opry shows since my first visit to Nashville in 1973. I can be contacted via email at bfay54@gmail.com